The UK’s second (and third, and thereafter) cities don’t often get much of a look in when it comes to attracting Americans – whether visitors or investors. But all that might be about to change with the news that Aloft is preparing quite an aggressive British invasion.

If the March 5 opening date still holds, then guests can expect all the usual Aloft accoutrements like funky but comfortable rooms; the w xyz bar and lounge; the re: charge gym; the re: fuel 24-hour pantry for quick bites; free WiFi; and a slightly north of Wall Street location, across from a Pace University campus and about a 15-minute walk to the September 11 Memorial and Museum.

However, we wouldn't put all our money into booking a room just yet. The website says the hotel will open on March 5, with reservations being taken for June 5. Eep. In the meantime, there's always the new Residence Inn. Or you know, one of the many other Starwood properties in Manhattan.

It’s always great to hear of an endangered landmark that may be saved from the wrecking ball and given back to its city as a hotel. When such salvaging happens in Detroit, it especially thrilling as we are all rooting for Motor City to make a comeback. Here is what we know about the latest effort to turn an abandoned building in Detroit into a hip, hotel (as if there was any other kind.)

Brooklyn-based developers ASH NYC have a contract to buy one of the most delapidated, graffiti adorned, buildings in Detroit for conversion to a boutique hotel. The slender 14-story building, pictured above, was once offices and a retail music center for Wurlitzer, the American company acclaimed for its organs and pianos, but who also made jukeboxes and electric guitars. Yes, we're already imagining some of these musical instruments displayed inside the new hotel.

A dog is not just for Christmas – it’s for overnight stays in the New Year, too. Or, rather, it is if you’re staying at Aloft Asheville. Its partnership with a local animal rehoming charity means that you can check in petless, and check out with a new furry best friend.

Aloft is working with Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue to rehome pets – which means a beauty parade of doggies around the public areas. Or, rather, one doggy at a time – wearing an “adopt me” vest, and giving pleading eyes to guests at check-in.

The “Northern England Hotel Scene” has hitherto not been a phrase that slips easily off the tongue, but the northern cities are killing it this year, with a Beatles hotel, a football hotel and a retro Manhattan hotel all journeying north of the Watford Gap.

You’ll find no Beatles murals here. Instead, you get a magnificent conversion of a grand 1903 building which was on English Heritage’s At Risk register, and had been closed for 20 years, before Starwood jumped in and turned it into the UK’s second Aloft.

Because of the history, the 116 rooms are pretty much all different (there are 97 room types, according to the Liverpool Echo). All, though, have high ceilings, ‘floating’ beds and Bliss amenities - and "Savvy" rooms have more architectural features, while "Aloft" rooms are more standard. And then those public areas – stained glass windows, wood-paneled conference rooms, and a stucco-roofed lobby. What more could you want?

Named for its purpose and state of mind, Botlr, the robotic servant is currently at the tail end of a test run at the Cupertino Aloft in California. We told you all about Botlr last month but in case you need a refresher, here's how he/it works:

After receiving a request that needs to be delivered, such as a snack or small amenity, a hotel employee programs the robot by hitting a few buttons. Botlr then uses the hotel Wifi to interact within the hotel and perform tasks, such as calling and directing the elevator to a specific floor. It is programmed with a mapping system that allows it to navigate through the property, the exact same technology used by Google's self-driving cars. Cameras help it avoid obstacles and real people.

When it arrives, it uses a signal to call the room telephone and alert the guest. Sensors allow Botlr to recognize when the door is opened and lift the lid on its storage container. And instead of being silently pressured into giving a tip, guests can enter a review for Botlr on its flat panel display screen. If it's a positive review, the Botlr will do a little dance. Well, that solves our problem of not having enough cash on us.

We came across a space-themed capsule hotel in China entirely staffed by robots. Way back in 2006, a Sheraton Hotel in Japan unleashed some robots to greet guests. The Hotel @ MIT has a robot on display and of course, we cannot forget about the Yotel luggage robot in Times Square. Yet while these were all innovative additions, with the exception of the Yobot, these hotel robots really didn't fulfill a service need for guests. Until now.

The NY Times reports that the Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, across from Apple's headquarters, will start using a Botlr Robot by Silicon Valley start-up Savioke on August 20. (Follow the adventure on social media with the hashtag #MeetBotlr.)

The Botlr's mission is simple. It "will shuttle items from the hotel lobby desk to guest rooms." So let's say you've just got settled into room and have changed into your pajamas when you realize that you've forgotten a toothbrush. Instead of going back downstairs or calling housekeeping and waiting forever to have a toothbrush delivered, the Botlr will bring it up to you. Here's how Botlr does what it does:

The latest Starwood hotel to hit Miami won't open until March 19, 2015 and judging by the pictures, we're even a little skeptical of that date. Yet it is interesting to see how Aloft is updating the old Motel Arkana, keeping much of the motel's existing structure but also adding another tower adjacent to the lot. (See the rendering on the Aloft Miami Beach website to get a better idea of how it will look.)

We knew Starwood had big plans for its health-oriented, eco-conscious Element Hotels brand, with Frankfurt Airport getting the first European outpost on a list that ranges from Flushing, Queens to Muscat, Oman.

With Frankfurt opening less than two months from now (September 1, to be exact) comes the news that London will have its very own Element as well, opening in a Boston-esque dual-brand development with an Aloft Hotel in 2017 at the Tobacco Dock area in Wapping, East London. It will be the second Aloft hotel for the city, after Aloft London ExCel further east.

Element London Tobacco Dock (the darker brown building on the right above) will have 77 studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites with kitchens, modular furniture, desks with open shelving, bathrooms with rain showers and dual-flush toilets. We’re hoping the free breakfasts, WiFi, and 24-hour fitness center will make an appearance as well.

We first talked about the vintage awesomeness of Terrace Hotel and the gaming paradise of Crown and then the luxury of a Ritz-Carlton, but now even more hotel announcements are coming out of Perth. Australia's fourth largest city is surely the newest hot spot for new properties, major renovations and increased service, but all of this may come at a high price.

Room rates in the west coast city are not cheap. On a recent trip with an overnight stop-over in Perth, we searched high and low for an affordable room that wasn't the Bates Motel. Our efforts turned up a room that was close to the airport (we had an early flight) that set us back $250 for the night. The room was basic; the building, prison-like. We weren't impressed and we wondered what was going on with Perth's hotel scene?

It takes a long time for a hotel project to go from idea to groundbreaking, from construction to first check-in. So even as we luxuriate (hopefully) in new openings and exciting upgrades, we’re already looking into our crystal ball (AKA the Internet) for buzz on what’s coming down the pipeline. Herewith, we present the three Boston hotel openings in 2015 that have us most excited right now — and why.

1. Envoy Hotel

Why we’re excited: Because a hot neighborhood needs a hot hotel.
Nothing makes something sound less hip than using the word hip.” But if you’ll allow us to don our verbal Mom Jeans for a moment — Boston’s Fort Point is hip. It’s hot. It’s very “now,” a little sliver of a neighborhood bordering the Seaport that happens to be filled with some of the most buzz-worthy restaurants in recent years: from legendary chef Barbara Lynch’s fine dining flagship, Menton, to the self-professed “working man’s oyster bar” (if you’re a “working man” in finance, maybe) that is Row 34.

Now the transformation from industrial area to hot hospitality ‘hood is nearly complete, with word that the $70 million Envoy Hotel (a rendering shown here) will open in 2015 on Sleeper Street near the Barking Crab restaurant. The six-story property is an entry in Marriott’s luxury Autograph Collection which also includes Maine's upcoming Press Hotel. Expect 136 rooms, plans for a pedestrian plaza that will link to the Boston HarborWalk, a rooftop terrace with skyline and harbor views, and 4,000 square feet of space on the ground level for – what else? – restaurants. Hip.

We’re hearing a lot about Aloft Hotels these days and here’s why: Starwood is planning to open 100 Aloft Hotels in 14 countries by the end of 2014. That’s a big shout-out to you, Gen Yers, since Starwood's building 'em mostly for you.

So without further adieu, here comes Aloft Calgary University, set to open on April 17—the first Aloft in Western Canada and the third to debut in the country.

Like all of the Aloft properties, you can expect modern design, loads of tech, and local live music at its signature W XYZ bar. You’ll also find a 24/7 pantry for when you have the munchies, indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, full-service day spa, spin studio and a casual eatery on the second level of the hotel.

The Aloft Calgary University will have 143 loft-inspired rooms each with a walk-in shower, Bliss toiletries, free and, they’re promising, fast WiFi, and plug & play charging stations that connect to the 42” LCD TV.

Rates in May start at $189 CAD, but we say go the distance and have breakfast included for $199 CAD.